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Humboldt County, California

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Humboldt County (Template:IPAc-en) is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 136,463.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Eureka.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

Humboldt County comprises the Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna, California, Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is located on the far North Coast of California, about Template:Convert north of San Francisco. It has among the most diverse climates of United States counties, with very mild coastal summers and hot interior days. Similar to the greater region, summers are extremely dry and winters have substantial rainfall.

Its primary population centers of Eureka, the site of College of the Redwoods main campus, and the smaller college town of Arcata, site of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, are located adjacent to Humboldt Bay, California's second largest natural bay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Area cities and towns are known for hundreds of ornate examples of Victorian architecture.

Humboldt County is a densely forested mountainous and rural county with about Template:Convert of coastline (more than any other county in the state),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> situated along the Pacific coast in Northern California's rugged Coast (Mountain) Ranges. With nearly Template:Convert of combined public and private forest in production, Humboldt County alone produces twenty percent of the total volume and thirty percent of the total value of all forest products produced in California.<ref>Forestry, Forest Industry, and Forest Products Consumption in California Template:Webarchive. University of California, Davis: Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Adobe Acrobat *.PDF document). Retrieved: March 30, 2008.</ref> The county contains over forty percent of all remaining old growth Coast Redwood forests,<ref>Area of Old-Growth Forests in California, Oregon, and Washington. – United States Forest Service – USDA. (Adobe Acrobat *.PDF document). Retrieved: November 18, 2007.</ref> the vast majority of which are protected or strictly conserved within dozens of national, state, and local forests and parks, totaling approximately Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:TOClimit

History

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The original inhabitants of the area now known as Humboldt County include the Algic Wiyot, Yurok; the Hokan Karuk; and the Athapaskan Hupa, Chilula, Whilkut, Tsnungwe as well as the Eel River Athapaskan peoples, including the Wailaki, Mattole and Nongatl.<ref name="VanKirkS-HCL-1999-05">Van Kirk, Susie, Humboldt County: A Briefest of Histories Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Historical Society, May 1999.</ref>

Spanish traders made unintended visits to California with the Manila Galleons on their return trips from the Philippines beginning in 1565. The first recorded entry by people of European origin was a landing by the Spanish in 1775 in Trinidad.<ref name="VanKirkS-HCL-1999-05" />

The first recorded entry of Humboldt Bay by non-natives was an 1806 visit from a sea otter hunting party from Sitka employed by the Russian American Company.<ref name="VanKirkS-HCL-1999-05" /> The hunting party included Captain Jonathan Winship, an American, and some Aleut hunters.<ref name="VanKirkS-HCL-1999-05" /><ref name="CAHLs">Humboldt County State Designated Historical Landmarks Template:Webarchive. California Historical Landmarks.</ref> The bay was not visited again by people of European origin until 1849 when Josiah Gregg's party visited.<ref name="CAHLs" /> In 1850, Douglas Ottinger and Hans Buhne entered the bay, naming it Humboldt in honor of the great naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt, and the name was later applied to the county as a whole.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The area around Humboldt Bay was once solely inhabited by the Wiyot Indian tribe. One of the largest Wiyot villages, Tolowot, was located on Indian Island in Humboldt Bay. Founded around 900 BC, it contains a shell midden Template:Convert in size and Template:Convert deep. It was the site of the February 26, 1860, massacre of the Wiyot people that was recorded by Bret Harte, then living in Union, now called Arcata. Between 60 and 200 Wiyot men, women, and children were murdered that night in the midst of a religious ceremony. Tolowot is now a restricted site and a National Historic Landmark.<ref name="CAHLs" /> In 2019, the island was restored to the Wiyot tribe, and is now known as Tuluwat or Duluwat island.

File:Images from DOI 10.5479 sil.131145.39088002742823 03.jpg
Humboldt, from a drawing made before 1854

Humboldt County was formed in 1853 from parts of Trinity County.

State historic landmarks in Humboldt County include Arcata and Mad River Railroad, California's First Drilled Oil Wells in Petrolia, Camp Curtis, Centerville Beach Cross, the city of Eureka, the Victorian town of Ferndale, Fort Humboldt, Humboldt Harbor Historical District, the Jacoby Building, The Old Arrow Tree, Old Indian Village of Tsurai, the Town of Trinidad, and Trinidad Head.<ref name="CAHLs" />

On February 5 and 6, 1885, Eureka's entire Chinese population of 300 men and 20 women were expelled after a gunfight between rival Chinese gangs (tongs) resulted in the wounding of a 12-year-old boy and the death of 56-year-old David Kendall, a Eureka City Councilman. After the shooting, an angry mob of 600 Eureka residents met and informed the Chinese that they were no longer wanted in Eureka and would be hanged if they were to stay in town past 3 p.m. the next day. They were put on two steamships and shipped to San Francisco. No one was killed in the expulsion. Another Chinese expulsion occurred during 1906 in a cannery on the Eel River, in which 23 Chinese cannery workers were expelled after objections to their presence. However, some Chinese remained in the Orleans area, where some white landowners sheltered and purchased food for the Chinese mineworkers until after racial tension passed. Chinese did not return to the coastal cities until the 1950s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, Humboldt County encompasses Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cape Mendocino is the westernmost point in California (longitude 124 degrees, 24 minutes, 30 seconds). Humboldt Bay, the only deepwater port between San Francisco and Coos Bay, Oregon, is located on the coast at the midpoint of the county.

Humboldt County contains a diversity of plant and animal species, with significant forest and coastal habitats. In coastal areas there are extensive redwood forests.<ref>Neil G. Sugihara, Jan W. Van Wagtendonk, Kevin E. Shaffer, JoAnn Fites-Kaufman, Andrea E. Thode (2006) Fire in California's Ecosystems, University of California Press, 596 pages. Template:ISBN.</ref> A prominent understory shrub is the toyon, whose northern range limit is in Humboldt County.<ref>C. Michael Hogan (2008) Toyon: Heteromeles arbutifolia, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg Template:Cite web</ref>

Rivers

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File:Arcata CA.jpg
Mouth of Humboldt County's Little River on the Pacific Coast
File:Humboldtrockefellerforest.jpg
Rockefeller Forest, the largest remaining old-growth Redwood forest on earth, is located within Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

Humboldt County's major rivers include (in order of flow – in cubic meters per second – from largest to smallest):

The smaller rivers include Redwood Creek, significant due to amount of its flow; the Van Duzen; the Eel River syncline group composed of the South Fork, the North Fork, and the Salt River; the Mattole, Salmon, Elk, Bear, and Little rivers.

Seismic activity

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Historically, Humboldt County and the entire far north coast of California have had many earthquakes over 6.0 magnitude. The Mendocino fracture zone is in the area.<ref name="Bush12">Template:Cite news</ref>

The 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes were a series of three major earthquakes that occurred off the coast of Cape Mendocino, California on April 25 and 26, 1992, the largest being a 7.2. Ninety-five people were injured and property in the county sustained considerable damage.<ref>Cape Mendocino, California Earthquakes Template:Webarchive, U.S.G.S. (April 25, 1992).</ref>

In 2010, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck offshore, Template:Convert west of Eureka, resulting in only minor injuries and some structural damage to houses and utilities, and no fatalities reported.<ref>Magnitude 6.5 – OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Template:Webarchive, U.S.G.S. (January 9, 2010).</ref>

In 2022, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake centered approximately Template:Convert from Ferndale caused damage, especially in Rio Dell.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The 2024 Cape Mendocino earthquake was a Mww  7.0 earthquake with an epicenter off the coast of Humboldt County.<ref name="Bush12" />

The town of Arcata is built on top of an accretionary wedge. This was formed by the subduction of the Gorda plate under the North American plate.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Climate

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The coastal zone of the county experiences very wet, cool winters and dry, mild foggy summers. In the winter, temperatures range from highs of Template:Convert to lows of Template:Convert. Coastal summers are cool to mild, with average highs of Template:Convert and frequent fog. Coastal summer temperatures range from highs of Template:Convert to lows of Template:Convert. In the populated areas and cities near the coast, the highest temperatures tend to occur at locations just a few miles inland from Eureka and Arcata, in towns like Fortuna, Rio Dell, and smaller unincorporated communities located somewhat further away from Humboldt Bay. In these locations summer highs are Template:Convert. The coastal zone experiences a number of frosty nights in winter and early spring, though snowfall and hard freezes are rare. Coastal winters are cool and wet. Winter rainstorms are frequent, with averages from Template:Convert a year, depending upon elevation.

Inland areas of the county also experience wet, cool winters. Snowfall is common at elevations over Template:Convert throughout the winter months, and is deep enough at higher elevations to have inspired the opening of a small ski lift operation (now defunct) on Horse Mountain, near Willow Creek, for several decades in the late 20th century. Summer displays the sharpest difference between the coastal and inland climates. Inland regions of Humboldt County experience highs of Template:Convert depending on the elevation and distance from the ocean. Occasional summer highs of Template:Convert are common in eastern and southern parts of the county including Orleans, Hoopa, Willow Creek, Garberville, Honeydew, and inland river valleys.

Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for warmest and coldest months in selected settlements of Humboldt County<ref name="California climate averages">Template:Cite web</ref>
Location Month Temp (°F) Temp (°C) Month Temp (°F) Temp (°C)
Eureka August 64/52 18/11 December 55/40 12/4
Arcata September 62/51 17/11 December 54/38 12/3
Ferndale August 71/52 22/11 December 56/39 13/4
Willow Creek July 94/52 34/11 December 50/35 10/1
Garberville August 87/53 31/12 December 49/37 9/3
Shelter Cove August 69/53 21/11 January 57/45 14/7
Orick August 69/49 21/9 January 52/37 11/2

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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Humboldt County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> % 2000 % 2010 Template:Partial
White alone (NH) 103,230 103,958 93,316 81.59% 77.22% 68.38%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,035 1,393 1,729 0.82% 1.03% 1.27%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 6,722 6,961 7,454 5.31% 5.17% 5.46%
Asian alone (NH) 2,022 2,854 3,495 1.60% 2.12% 2.56%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 219 332 436 0.17% 0.25% 0.32%
Other Race alone (NH) 448 368 1,091 0.35% 0.27% 0.80%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 4,632 5,546 10,407 3.66% 4.12% 7.63%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8,210 13,211 18,535 6.49% 9.81% 13.58%
Total 126,518 134,623 136,463 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census reported that Humboldt County had a population of 134,623. The racial makeup of Humboldt County was 109,920 (81.7%) White, 1,505 (1.1%) African American, 7,726 (5.7%) Native American, 2,944 (2.2%) Asian, 352 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 5,003 (3.7%) from other races, and 7,173 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13,211 persons (9.8%).<ref>Template:USCensus2010CA</ref>

2011

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Places by population, race, and income

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File:Lanphere Dunes.jpg
The Lanphere Dunes, a protected coastal environment


2000

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As of the 2000 census, the population of Humboldt County was 126,518. As of that census, there were 51,238 households in Humboldt County, and the population density was Template:Convert. By 2006, the population was projected to have increased to 131,361 by the California Department of Finance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There were 55,912 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.Template:Citation needed The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 5.7% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. In 2017, 11.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino according to the United States Census Bureau. 13.3% were of German, 10.7% Irish, 10.3% English, 7.4% American and 5.7% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.1% spoke English and 4.6% spoke Spanish as their first language.

There were 51,238 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,226, and the median income for a family was $39,370. Males had a median income of $32,210 versus $23,942 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,203. About 12.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

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Humboldt County is known for its impressive redwood trees,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and many acres of private redwood timberland make Humboldt the top timber producer in California. The lush river bottoms adjacent to the ocean produce rich, high-quality dairy products. Somewhat further inland, the warmer valleys have historically produced abundant apples and other fruit. More recently vineyards have been planted in the Trinity, Klamath, Mattole and upper Eel river areas.

Notable local companies include:

Dairy

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Humboldt County is known for its family-operated dairy farms. The Humboldt Creamery, a significant producer of high-grade ice cream and other dairy products, operates from the original headquarters located at Fernbridge adjacent to the Eel River.<ref name = Wilson >Template:Cite web</ref>

Cannabis

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Template:Further

Large indoor growing of cannabis
On May 26, 2020, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served one search warrant to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Weitchpec area. Approximately 18,690 growing cannabis plants and Template:Convert of cannabis bud were destroyed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As part of the Emerald Triangle, Humboldt County is known for its cultivation of cannabis, estimated to be worth billions of dollars.<ref>California to Let Voters Decide on Marijuana Legalization Template:Webarchive, PBS NewsHour, aired October 13, 2010.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Proposition 215 allows patients and caregivers who are given a doctor's recommendation to legally (State level only) grow up to 99 plants in Humboldt County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SamuelsD-TNY">Template:Cite magazine</ref> However, in the years before Prop 215 (early 1970s – late 1980s), Humboldt County saw a large migration of the Bay Area counter-culture to the region. Many came looking to purchase cheap land, and ended up growing marijuana to pay for their land. Especially around Garberville and Redway, the rural culture and hippie scene eventually collaborated to create a rural hippie community in which marijuana became the center of the economy and the culture. Many people prospered by producing marijuana for California and other states because of its reputation for quality.<ref name="TNY 2019-05-20">Template:Cite magazine</ref> A Redway radio station, KMUD, in the past has issued warnings and alerts to the region with information on whereabouts of law enforcement on their way to raid marijuana gardens.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:R

The Campaign Against Marijuana Planting is the multi-agency law enforcement task force managed by the California Department of Justice, formed with the prime purpose of eradicating illegal cannabis production in California. The operations began in the late 1970s, named the Northern California Sinsemilla Strike Force in 1979, but the name CAMP became used after its official establishment in 1983. While the influence of CAMP in Humboldt County has waned with decriminalization of marijuana, there is a renewed interest at the state level regarding valid growing permits and environmental concerns. As a result, CAMP is today still used as a policing body, in accordance with the DEA.<ref name="CAMPReports">Template:Cite archive</ref> Yearly CAMP reports, published by the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE) are available online through Cal Poly Humboldt's Special Collections. Starting in 1983, the annual reports detail the organizational structure and names of individual participants, a summary of the season's activities, tactics, and mention of special successes, trends and hazards.<ref name=CAMPReports />

County officials and the industry have encountered challenges in the transition from an illegal, underground economy to legal recreational cannabis sales that began in California in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As of 2023, the county has the largest cannabis farming industry in the Emerald Triangle. While the largest legal pot farm in the county was Template:Convert, a 2021 survey found the median pot farm sito be as Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Lead poisoning (2017–2018)

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Humboldt County children are at greater risk of dangerously elevated blood lead levels than Flint, Michigan's – and almost double that of any other California county measured. The cases are concentrated in Eureka's Old Town and downtown areas.<ref name=PbAuditEureka>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=PbFlint>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=PbCaCounties>Template:Cite web</ref>

Parks and recreation

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National protected areas

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National Park
Conservation area
Recreation area
Forests
Wildlife refuge

State protected areas

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Beaches
Parks
Tide pools
Recreation areas
Reserves

County parks

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Arts and culture

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Government

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Overview

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Humboldt County is in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>

In the state legislature, Humboldt is part of Template:Representative,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Election audits in the county since 2008 have used a distinctive system which has spread elsewhere. They scan all ballots and release a file of the images with a digital signature, so candidates and the public can recount to find if the official totals are correct. They also release software to let the public tally the images electronically.<ref name="wired">"Trachtenberg Election Verification Software" (TEVS). Template:Cite magazine</ref> The first time they did this they found the official software omitted 200 ballots.<ref name="wire1">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="etp">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="sf">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="eac">Template:Cite web</ref>

Voter registration

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Cities by population and voter registration

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Party preferences

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From 1920 to 1984, the county was a noted bellwether area, voting for the national winner of every Presidential election. Since 1988, Humboldt has swung heavily to the Democratic Party at the Presidential and congressional levels, and is now one of the most Democratic areas in the state outside the Bay Area and Southern California. The last Republican presidential candidate to win a majority in the county was Ronald Reagan, a Californian, in 1984.<ref name="HistData">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Humboldt also had a substantial number of people affiliated with the Green Party, but that number has declined in recent years; however, the Green Party has had its best performance by presidential and gubernatorial candidates of any county in the United States in Humboldt County, with Jill Stein gaining her largest county-level number of votes in Humboldt in 2016.Template:Citation needed

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Crime

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In 2018, Humboldt County was featured in the Netflix documentary Murder Mountain which highlighted the county's marijuana industry, violent crime and missing person cases.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As of 2022, Humboldt County ranked fourth out of California's 58 counties in missing adults per capita.<ref name="Missing Persons Statistics">Template:Cite web</ref> (See table below)

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates
Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 133,585
Violent crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11">Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Template:Webarchive. Retrieved November 14, 2013.</ref> 541 4.05
  Homicide<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/> 8 0.06
  Forcible rape<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/> 33 0.25
  Robbery<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/> 117 0.88
  Aggravated assault<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/> 383 2.87
Property crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/> 2,270 16.99
  Burglary<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/> 1,057 7.91
  Larceny-theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/><ref name="LT-note" group="note">Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.</ref> 2,513 18.81
  Motor vehicle theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/> 475 3.56
Arson<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/> 51 0.38

Cities by population and crime rates

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Cities by population and crime rates
City Population<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8">Template:Cite web</ref> Violent crimes<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8"/> Violent crime rate
per 1,000 persons 		Property crimes<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8"/> Property crime rate
per 1,000 persons
Arcata 18,332 72 3.92 605 33.00
Eureka 26,973 195 7.23 1,350 50.05
Ferndale 1,363 4 2.93 24 17.61
Fortuna 12,317 28 2.27 317 25.74
Rio Dell 3,392 11 3.24 61 17.98

Education

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File:Salmon Creek Community School, Humboldt County, CA.jpg
Salmon Creek Community School, Humboldt County, California

The List of schools in Humboldt County, California shows the many school districts, including charter and private schools, at the elementary and high school level. Post-secondary education is offered locally at the College of the Redwoods and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt). Blue Lake's Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre offers accredited three-year Masters of Fine Arts degrees in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre. Humboldt County has the lowest starting teacher pay scale in the whole state of California.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

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Print

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The Times-Standard is the only daily newspaper in the region; in continuous publication since 1854, and owned by Media News Group since 1996,<ref name="cr1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also print three weeklies: the Redwood Times,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the Tri-City Weekly,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Northcoast 101.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other local publications include The Independent,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the North Coast Journal,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Ferndale Enterprise,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Two Rivers Tribune,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Isis Scrolls,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and The Lumberjack.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Arcata Eye <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the McKinleyville Press<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> merged in August 2013 to form the Mad River Union.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Television

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Humboldt County's locally produced television stations, NBC station KIEM and PBS station KEET, are based in Eureka. KIEM produces the only local TV newscast and KEET is the only PBS station in the region. Since 2017, CBS affiliate KVIQ has been a low-powered station operated as part of a duopoly with KIEM, sharing the same studios.

Fox affiliate KBVU, a semi-satellite of KCVU, is based in Chico and ABC affiliate KAEF, a semi-satellite of KRCR-TV, is based in Redding. In previous decades all major networks had production capacity in Eureka.

Radio

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For-profit

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Non-profit

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Community media

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Community broadband networks and public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable TV channels provide air time for local voices on Access Humboldt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cable TV channels are carried by Suddenlink Communications<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and local programs are provided online through the Community Media Archive.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Digital Redwoods initiative of Access Humboldt is developing local networks to meet comprehensive community needs, including public, education and government purposes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

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File:Fernbridge.JPG
Historic Fernbridge (1911) on the road to Ferndale – California State Route 211

Major highways

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Public transportation

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  • Humboldt Transit Authority operates two fixed route transit bus systems:
    • Redwood Transit System provides intercity service to and within communities between Trinidad and Garberville, including Manila, King Salmon, Field's Landing, Loleta, Fernbridge and Fortuna. HTA also offers service between McKinleyville or Arcata and Willow Creek and an express bus between Arcata and College of the Redwoods when classes are in session.
    • Eureka Transit Service, operated in the City of Eureka, provides local service on four scheduled routes (one hour headway) in Eureka and its adjacent unincorporated communities. Connections can be made to the Redwood Transit System at several places in Eureka.
  • Arcata and Mad River Transit System, operated by the City of Arcata with funding from Cal Poly Humboldt. A&MRTS provides fixed route local bus service on two scheduled routes (one hour headway) in Arcata and an additional route between the Valley West Neighborhood and the university when classes are in session.
  • The city of Blue Lake and the Blue Lake Rancheria operates the Blue Lake Rancheria Transit Authority.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This provides fixed route intercity transit bus service (one hour headway) between Arcata and the Blue Lake Rancheria Indian Reservation and casino and local service within the city of Blue Lake.
  • Del Norte County's Redwood Coast Transit operates fixed route intercity transit bus service between Arcata and Crescent City or Smith River.
  • Amtrak Thruway bus has stops in many towns in the region, including Eureka, Arcata, and Fortuna. These stops are not managed by Amtrak and therefore have no services beyond serving passengers. Full service is only provided at the train station in Martinez, near San Francisco.

Airports

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Arcata-Eureka Airport is located in McKinleyville (north of Arcata). Commercial flights are available. Other general aviation airports are located at Dinsmore, Garberville, Kneeland, Murray Field (Eureka), Samoa Field and Rohnerville (Fortuna).

Seaport

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The Port of Humboldt Bay is on Humboldt Bay, California's second largest natural bay.

Events

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Name Month Location Citation
Apple Harvest Festival October Fortuna <ref>Apple Harvest Festival October 6 and 7, 2012 Template:Webarchive, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Arcata Oyster Festival June Arcata Plaza <ref>Arcata Oyster Festival Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Azalea Festival June McKinleyville <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Avenue of the Giants Marathon May Humboldt Redwood State Park <ref>Avenue of the Giants Marathon Website, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Blackberry Festival July Westhaven <ref>Blackberry Festival Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Blues by the Bay July Eureka <ref>Blues by the Bay Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Brew at the Zoo May Eureka <ref name="sequoiaparkzoo.net">Template:Cite web</ref>
Chicken Wingfest September Eureka <ref>Template:Cite web, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Craftsman's Days November Eureka <ref>Craftsman's Days Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
College of the Redwoods Wood Fair June Eureka <ref>Community and Economic Development Wood Fair 2012 Template:Webarchive, College of the Redwoods, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Ferndale Concours on Main Car Show September Ferndale <ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
Ferndale Pet Parade June Ferndale <ref name=":0" />
Foggy Bottom Milk Run March Ferndale <ref name=":0" />
Fortuna Rodeo July Fortuna <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Fourth of July Festival July 4 Old Town Eureka <ref>4th of July Festival Template:Webarchive, Eureka Main Street, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Humboldt Pride September Arcata <ref>Humboldt Pride Website Template:Webarchive, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Godwit Days (Birding festival) April Arcata <ref>Godwit Days website, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Humboldt Arts Festival May Arcata/Blue Lake <ref>Humboldt Arts Festival Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Humboldt County Cup November Eureka <ref>Humboldt County Cup, Humboldt County Cup, accessed October 29, 2017</ref>
Humboldt County Fair August Ferndale <ref>Humboldt County Fair Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Humboldt Film Festival March & April Arcata <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Humboldt Juggling Festival April/May Arcata (HSU) <ref>Humboldt Juggling Society Template:Webarchive, 2012, accessed November 25, 2013</ref>
Humboldt Redwoods Marathon October Southern Humboldt <ref>Humboldt Redwoods Marathon Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Kinetic Grand Championship May Arcata to Ferndale <ref>Kinetic Grand Championship Official Website</ref>
Lighted Tractor Parade December Ferndale <ref name=":0" />
Lighting of America's Tallest Living Christmas Tree December Ferndale <ref name=":0" />
Lost Coast Kennel Club's Annual All Breed Show, Obedience, Rally, Agility Trails, Barn Hunt, FCATs July Ferndale <ref name=":0" />
Mushroom Fair November Arcata <ref>Humboldt Bay Mycological Society, accessed November 13, 2018</ref>
North Country Fair September Arcata <ref>North Country Fair Website, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Organic Planet Festival September Eureka <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Reggae on the River August French's Camp <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Redwood Acres Fair June Eureka <ref>Redwood Acres Fair Website Template:Webarchive, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Redwood AutoXpo July Fortuna <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Redwood Coast Jazz Festival March Eureka <ref>Redwood Coast Jazz Fest Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Redwood Region Logging Conference March Eureka, every other year <ref>[1], accessed January 12, 2025</ref>


Redwood Run June Southern Humboldt <ref>Kiwanis Redwood Run Website, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Rhododendron Festival and Parade April Eureka <ref>Rhododendron Parade Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Roll on the Mattole Summer Mattole Grange <ref>NCJ Calendar, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Summer Arts and Music Festival June Benbow <ref>The 37th Annual Summer Arts and Music Festival Template:Webarchive, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Swauger's Station Day July Loleta <ref>Loleta Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Tour of Loleta (by Bicycle) July Loleta <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tour of the Unknown Coast (by Bicycle) May Southern Humboldt <ref>Tour of the Unknown Coast Website, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Trinidad Fish Festival June Trinidad <ref>Trinidad Fish Festival Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Trinidad to Clam Beach Run February Trinidad <ref>Trinidad to Clam Beach Run Website, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Truckers Christmas Parade December Eureka <ref>Truckers Christmas Parade Template:Webarchive, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2013, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Two Rivers Harvest Festival October Willow Creek <ref>1st Annual Two Rivers Harvest Festival, North Coast Journal, 2009, accessed March 22, 2013</ref>
Zootini August Eureka <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Redwood Coast Up in Smoke BBQ Competition June Blue Lake <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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Filming location

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Ferndale, in southern Humboldt county, has been featured in such movies as The Majestic<ref name="FIA-m">Template:Cite web</ref> and Outbreak.<ref name="Haeseler">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="FIA-o">Template:Cite web</ref> It has appeared in made-for-television movies including Salem's Lot,<ref name="Haeseler" /> A Death in Canaan,<ref name="Haeseler" /> and Joe Dirt.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> It was also the location of the iconic "I'm a Pepper" commercial for Dr. Pepper.<ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Additionally the following films were shot in Ferndale: the science fiction horror cult film She Demons (1958),<ref>Template:Citation.</ref> the award-winning short film Nonnie & Alex (1995),<ref>Template:Citation.</ref> and the comedy-drama Kingdom Come (2001).<ref>Template:Citation.</ref>

Television shows

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Much of The WB's Hyperion Bay and the CBS show Blue Skies as well as an episode of Moonlighting were filmed in Humboldt County. The infamous Patterson-Gimlin film was filmed on Bluff Creek near Orleans, California.

Humboldt County has also been the subject of multiple documentary miniseries including Discovery Channel's Pot Cops and Netflix's Murder Mountain.

Humboldt County has also been featured in episodes of On the Case with Paula Zahn, The Profit, Hamilton's Pharmacopeia, Top Gear, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Survivorman, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Finding Bigfoot, Treehouse Masters, Rescue 911, Walking With Dinosaurs, Somebody's Gotta Do It, Monsters Resurrected, Weediquette, Dan Rather Reports, Monster Fish, Beachfront Bargain Hunt, and many more.<ref name="humboldt.filmhumboldtdelnorte.org">Template:Cite web</ref>

Ferndale was featured by Huell Howser in Road Trip Episode 149.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Humboldt County has also been the filming location for countless national television advertisements, including many major car commercials.<ref name="humboldt.filmhumboldtdelnorte.org"/>

The Netflix series Virgin River is set in Humboldt County.

Books

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In the book Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov there is a possible pun using the county's name (Humboldt) in connection to the main character's name (Humbert Humbert). This appears on page 108: "With the help of a guidebook I located [The Enchanted Hunters inn] in the secluded town of Briceland." This 'secluded town' could very well be a reference to the unincorporated Briceland of Humboldt County, making The Enchanted Hunters in 'Humboldt Land', continuing the novel's grotesque fairy-tale veneer.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Communities

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File:Carson Mansion Eureka California.jpg
The Carson Mansion in Eureka (private)

Cities

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Indian reservations

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Humboldt County has eight Indian reservations lying within its borders. Only four other counties in the United States have more: San Diego County, California; Sandoval County, New Mexico; Riverside County, California; and Mendocino County, California. The Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation is the largest in the state of California, a state that generally has small reservations (although numerous) relative to those in other states.

Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Humboldt County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

† county seat

Rank City/town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Eureka City 26,512
2 Arcata City 18,857
3 McKinleyville CDP 16,262
4 Fortuna City 12,516
5 Myrtletown CDP 4,882
6 Humboldt Hill CDP 3,498
7 Rio Dell City 3,379
8 Cutten CDP 3,223
9 Pine Hills CDP 3,186
10 Hoopa Valley Reservation<ref>https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=1490Template:Dead link</ref> AIAN 3,173
11 Bayview CDP 2,619
12 Willow Creek CDP 1,720
13 Ferndale City 1,398
14 Redway CDP 1,247
15 Hydesville CDP 1,244
16 Yurok Reservation<ref>https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=4760Template:Dead link</ref> (partially in Del Norte County) AIAN 1,236
17 Blue Lake City 1,208
18 Westhaven-Moonstone CDP 1,187
19 Loleta CDP 828
20 Fieldbrook CDP 827
21 Garberville CDP 818
22 Shelter Cove CDP 803
23 Manila CDP 798
24 Indianola CDP 791
25 Scotia CDP 681
26 Karuk Reservation<ref>https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=1750Template:Dead link</ref> AIAN 578
27 Miranda CDP 441
28 Benbow CDP 422
29 Orick CDP 328
30 Trinidad City 307
31 Fields Landing CDP 287
32 Samoa CDP 229
33 Weott CDP 219
34 Rohnerville Rancheria<ref>https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=3220Template:Dead link</ref> AIAN 208
35 Big Lagoon CDP 161
36 (tie) Alderpoint CDP 137
36 (tie) Trinidad Rancheria<ref>https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=4275Template:Dead link</ref> AIAN 137
38 Phillipsville CDP 124
39 Table Bluff Reservation<ref>https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=4095Template:Dead link</ref> AIAN 120
40 Blue Lake Rancheria<ref>https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=0325Template:Dead link</ref> AIAN 112
41 Myers Flat CDP 90
42 Redcrest CDP 61
43 Big Lagoon Rancheria<ref>https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=0240Template:Dead link</ref> AIAN 17

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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References

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Further reading

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